Thirds to harry price and charles w



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT P. SEYMOUR, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF 'IWVO- THIRDS TO HARRY PRICE AND CHARLES W. DOUG-HERTY, OF SAME PLACE.

MEANS FOR SECURING SCREW-HOOKS, &c., IN CEILINGS OR OTHER HIGH STRUCTURES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,041, dated June 16, 1896. Application filed January 2T, 1896. Serial No. 576,272. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.- ous disadvantages, I have provided a means Be it known that I, HERBERT P. SEYMOUR, whereby a screw-eye, screw-hook, or analoa citizen of the United States, residing at gous fixture can be secured into'a ceiling or 5 5 Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State other high structure by a person standing 011 5 of Connecticut, have invented certain new the floor and without the use of a ladder or and usefulImprovements in Means for Securother similar device, and in the preferred ing Screw-Hooks, Screw-Eyes, or Similar Fixform thereof herein shown and described the tures in Ceilings or other High Structures, of screw-hook-driving device comprises in agenwhich the following is a specification. eral way a suitable holder (designated gener- IO This invention relates to means for securally by A) having secured thereto a pole or ing screw-hooks, screw-eyes, or similar fixhandle B and clamping-jaws (designated in tures in aceiling or otherhigh structure, and a general way by C) movable within said it is more particularly designated as a screwholder for receiving and firmly holding a hook-driving device. screw-eye, screw-hook, or analogous fixture 15 The object of the invention is to provide a in position to be secured in place.

device of this character which is simple in According to one embodiment of my i11- construction and by means of which a screwvent-ion the holder A is preferably in the nahook, screw-eye, or analogous fixture can be ture of a tubular sleeve 10, having an inte- 7o quickly and easily secured in position in the riorly-tapered upper end for the reception of 20 ceiling of a room or other high structure witha pair of reciprocatory clampingjaws 11 and out the use of a ladder or similar device. 12, and which jaws are secured in said sleeve In the drawings accompanying and forming by means of a bolt or pin 18,extending through part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side and working in oppositely-disposed slots 14 view of the screw-hook-driving device, the in the sides of the holder and extending 25 pole or handle thereof being broken off. Fig. through a substantially circular opening 15,

2 is a sideview of the same, taken at right formed by a semicircular recess 16, in each angles to the View shown in Fig. 1 and havjaw. The bolt or pin 13 is provided with a ing a part broken away and a part thereof in suitable handle or handles 17, extending section. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view outside of the'holder, and one of which is 0 taken in line a a, Fig. 5, parts thereof being preferably integral with the bolt or pin and in full lines. Fig. 4. is a partly vertical secthe other of which has a screw-threaded stud tional view taken at right angles to the view 18 fitting within said bolt or pin, and which shown in Fig. 3 and showing the jaws open, bolt or pin may be made tubular or have a and Fig. 5 is a top view having parts thereof recess therein for this purpose, said stud l8 3 5 broken off. I engaging with interior screw-threads thereof, Similar characters of reference designate whereby said bolt can be secured-in position. like parts in all the figures of the drawings. Each of the jaws is provided, adjacent to Heretofore, when it has been desired to seits outer end, with a lip 19 for engaging the cure a screw-eye, screw-hook, or analogous shank of a screw-hook or screw-eye, as 50,

4o fixture in a ceiling-for instance, in the ceiland with a recess 20 below said lip, and each ing of a storefor the purpose of suspending jaw is also provided at the inner end of said various articles therefrom, it has been necesrecess with a projecting portion, forming a sary to use a ladder or similar structure in seat or support 21 for the screw eye or hook 5 ordertobe ableto securesuch fixturesinplace, 50, whereby said screw eye or hook will be 5 and which is inconvenient and laborious, not held in position in a manner hereinafter set only in the direct use of the same, but also forth. Each of the jaws has a tapering shank in placing such ladder or structure in posi- 22 at the inner end in position to be engaged tion for use and in the removing of the same, by apin or stud 23, preferably a screw-threadroe especially when the ceiling or other structure ed pin or stud, extending through a threaded 50 is a very high one, and the use of which is, aperture in the tubular holder, whereby on moreover, also dangerous to life and limb. the outward movement of saidjaws, by means In. order, therefore, to overcome these seriof the handles 17, the outer faces of said tapering shanks ZZ-Will be engaged by the pins 23 and forced inwardly to thereby open and spread the jaws for the reception of a screw hook or eye, said jaws closing on the hook by the tapering wall of the holder engaging the tapering jaws on their inward movements and pressing the same together in a manner that will be obvious without further description.

Secured to the lower end of the holder by any desired means is a suitable pole or handle B, by means of whichthe device can be held in position for use. The handle or pole may be of any desired length and may be removable therefrom, if desired, and it is herein shown having a portion thereof extending within the tubular holder and secured therein by means of a fastening-pin 26.

As a means for removing the screw hooks or eyes from their position in the ceiling or other place the upper end of each jaw is provided with a slot or recess 28, of suitable length to receive the hook or eye portion or head of the fixture. In the construction shown, however, each jaw has a slot or recess whichvaries in length from the slot or recess of its companion jaw, whereby different sizes of fixtures can be removed. It will beunderstood; however, that the screw-driving device is adapted for use with fixtures or devices other than screw-hooks orscrew-eyes, if desired, either with or without changing the mouth of the clamping-jaws, without departing from thescope of my invention.

In the use of this improved device the clamping-jaws 11 and 12 are moved outwardly in the sleeve or holder by means of the handles 17, whereby the pins or studs 23 engage the shanks 532 of said jaws and open or spread the same. The screw eye or hook 50 is then placed in the mouth thereof, with its hook portion resting 011 the seat or support 21. The handle 17 is then released, and the jaws by their weight fall within their tapering holder and clamp the screw eye or hook 50 in posi tion between the lips 19, and thus firmly holdin g thefixture so that it can be screwed into the ceiling or other place by simply turning the'handle and without the use of a ladder or other similar device. After the screw-hook orscrew-eyehas been screwed into its place theholder is drawn away from the same by means of the handle, the hook thereby cansin g the jaws to move outwardly and spread, whereby the holder can be removed fromthe hook.

\Vhenit is necessary to remove a screw hook or eye for any purpose, the deviceis placed in positionto have one or the other of the slots 28 receive the hook, and the handle is then turned to unscrew the same in a manner that will be obvious without a more explicit deseription.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. Ina device of the class specified, the com-- bination of an interiorly-tapered tubular holder, a pair of tapering clamping-jaws movable therein; each of said jaws having a tapering shank; studs or pins in position in said holder for engaging the tapering shanks of the jaws for opening or spreading said jaws; and a pole or handle secured to said holder.

2. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a holder having a pair of oppositely-disposed slots therein; clamping-jaws movable within said holder; means extending through said slots, and intermediate of and engaging the inner opposing faces of said jaws for moving the same outwardly, whereby the same can be opened or spread; and a pole or handle secured to said holder.

In a device of the class specified, the combination of a tubular holder having a pair of oppositely-disposed slots therein; a pair of clamping-jaws movable within said holder, eachof said jaws having a semicircular recess in its opposing face; a bolt or pin cxtendin through said slots of the holder and through the substantially circular opening formed by the semicircular recesses of the jaws, whereby said clamping-jaws can be moved outwardly to open or spread the same; and a pole orhandle secured to said holder.

4. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a tubular holder having a pair of oppositely-disposed slots therein; a pair of clamping-jaws movable within said holder, each of said jaws having a semicircularrecess in its opposing face; a removable bolt or pin extending through the slots of said holder and through the substantially circular opening formed by the semicircular recesses of the jaws and having a handle detachable therefrom, and whereby said clamping-jaws can be moved outwardly to open or spread the same; and a pole or handle secured to said holder.

5. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a tubular holder having a pair of oppositely-disposed slots; a pair of clampingjaws movable in said holder, each of said jaws having a shank; means extending through said slots and intermediate of and engaging said jaws for moving the same outwardly; means for engaging said shanks to thereby open or spread said jaws; and a pole or handle secured in said holder.

6. In a device of the class specified, the combination of an interiorlytapered tubular sleeve having a pair of oppositely-disposed slots; a pair of tapering clamping-jaws movable within said sleeve, each of said jaws having a semicircular recess in its opposing face,

and also having a tapering shank; a boltor pin extending through the slots of the sleeve and through the substantially circular opening formed by the semicircular recesses of the jaws; said bolt or pin having a detachable handle, whereby said jaws can be moved outwardly within the holder; studs or pins secured in said holder with their inner ends in position to engage the tapering shanks of said aws, whereby on. the outward movement of IIO said jaws, they will be spread or opened; and a handle or pole secured to said tubular sleeve.

7. In a device of the class specified, the combination of an interiorlytapered tubular sleeve having a pair of oppositely-disposed slots; a pair of tapcringclamping-jaws movable in said sleeve, each of said jaws having a lip at its upper end, a semicircular recess remotely disposed therefrom, and a recess intermediate of said semicircular recess and said lip, and forming a mouth for the reception of a screw-hook or analogous fixture; each of said jaws also having a tapering shank at its lower end; a bolt or pin extending through the slots of the sleeve and through the substantially circular opening formed by the semicircular recesses of the jaws and having a detachable handle, whereby said jaws can be moved outwardly within the sleeve; studs or pins secured in said sleeve with their inner ends in position to engage the tapering shanks of said jaws, whereby on the outward movements of said jaws, they will be spread or opened; and a handle or pole secured to said tubular sleeve.

8. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a holder, clamping-jaws movable therein; one of said jaws having a recess or slot in its outer end; and a pole or handle secured to said holder.

9. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a holder, clamping-jaws movable therein, each of said jaws having a recess or slot in its outer end, and of a different length from its companion recess or slot; and a pole or handle secured to said holder.

10. In a device of the class specified,the combination of a holder, clamping-jaws movable therein, each of said jaws having a slot or recess in its outer end; and means for opening or spreading said jaws.

11. In a device of the class specified,the combination of a tubular holder having a pair of oppositely-disposed slots; a pair of clampingjaws movable in said holder, each of said jaws having a recess or slot in its outer end and a shank at the inner end; means extending through said slots and intermediate of and engaging said jaws for moving the same outwardly; and means for engaging said shanks, to thereby open or spread said jaws.

12. In a device of the class specified,the combination of an interiorly-tapered tubular sleeve having a pair of oppositely-disposed slots; a pair of tapering clamping-jaws movable in said sleeve, and having slots or recesses at their outer ends of varying lengths; each of said jaws having a semicircular recess in its opposing face, and also having a tapering shank; a bolt or pin extending through the slots of the sleeve and through the substantially circular opening formed by the semicircular recesses of the jaws, and whereby said jaws can be moved outwardly within the sleeve; studs or pins secured in said sleeve with their inner ends in position to engage the tapering shanks of said jaws, whereby on the outward movement of said jaws, they will be spread or opened; and a handle or pole secured to said tubular sleeve.

HERBERT P. SEYMOUR.

WVitnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, GEO. A. HOFFMAN. 

